Effectiveness of Bullying and Violence Prevention Programs

Abstract

W orkplace bullying in health care is a serious occupational problem for nurses nationally and internationally, as evidenced by the considerable amount of literature on the topic. The frequency of workplace bullying among staff nurses can be substantial , leading to considerable direct and indirect costs for the victim, the health care system, and society. Some of the costs due to bullying include nurses leaving their positions and replacing nurses who quit their jobs. The costs resulting from bullying are then passed on to those needing health care. Consequently, interactions with staff nurses present occupational health nurses with opportunities to identify victims of workplace bullying and provide effective techniques for prevention and management of future workplace bullying behaviors. This article defines workplace bullying and presents best practices based on published evidence. Strengths, limitations, and gaps in the literature are discussed along with a plan for translating this evidence into a workplace bullying prevention and management program.